Longtime Eagles / Country Guitarist Steuart Smith Retires Due to Illness


He was both the touring and studio guitarist for The Eagles for 25 years, but also contributed significantly to numerous country music tours and albums over his tenure, and was one of the most respected musicians in Nashville and beyond. Few could replace Don Felder in the legendary country rock band, and trade licks with Joe Walsh. But Steuart Smith could, and did.

Smith with no longer be touring with The Eagles or anyone else. The 72-year-old recently announced a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, which has rendered him unable to perform or tour.

“It is with profound regret that, due to performance issues associated with my recently diagnosed Parkinsonism, I find that I must bow out of my role with the Eagles while I can still do so gracefully,” Smith said in a statement. “It’s been a great quarter of a century, and I had hoped to be able to finish out this year with the band, but I must now do what’s best for all concerned.”

Steuart Smith came into the public consciousness for many after the controversial firing of Don Felder in 2001. Felder felt he deserved more recognition and pay in the band. But Steuart Smith was already an accomplished guitarist in country at the time he joined the Eagles. As both a touring and recording musician, he’d worked with Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, and more.

Perhaps most notably, Smith played guitar on Rodney Crowell’s now legendary album Diamonds & Dirt from 1988 that seeded five consecutive #1 singles. Steuart was an official member of Rodney Crowell’s band The Cicadas, which released its own album in 1997.

Steuart Smith also previously performed with current member of The Eagles, Vince Gill, and also played in the solo band of Don Henley. Though just like Don Felder previously, Steuart Smith was dealt with as a “hired hand,” he also became a very visible member of the band, and co-wrote two of the songs on the band’s 2007 album Long Road Out of Eden.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Steuart Smith has most recently been living in Salem, Massachusetts.

Replacing Steuart Smith in The Eagles will be Vince Gill in part, who will continue to take over more guitar duties, as well as well-respected Dallas-based guitarist Chris Holt. Holt has performed in numerous bands previously, but is perhaps best known recently for performing in the Dirty Knobs with former Tom Petty’s and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell.

It appears Smith left The Eagles before the beginning of 2025. But when he didn’t appear with the band during their first performance at the Las Vegas Sphere on January 17th, public speculation ensued.

“Steuart Smith has retired from touring,” Don Henley later said in a statement. “The Eagles will be forever grateful for the extraordinary talents that he brought to both our recordings and live performances. Steuart will be greatly missed, but he will always be a part of our musical family. We know our many fans join us in wishing him well.”

The Eagles have obviously gone through numerous lineup changes over the years, with drummer and singer Don Henley being the only original member of the band, though Joe Walsh has been a longtime collaborator, and officially joined the band in 1975. Bass player Timothy B. Schmidt has been a member since 1977, and Vince Gill came on to replace Glenn Frey after he passed away in 2016.

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